BIB_ID
331428
Accession number
MA 494.49
Creator
Walpole, Horace, 1717-1797.
Display Date
1791 Feb. 26.
Credit line
Acquired by Pierpont Morgan, before 1904.
Description
1 item (4 p., with address) ; 20.2 cm
Notes
Address panel with seal and postmarks and addressed "À Mademoiselle Mademoiselle Berry à lat poste restante à Florence, Italie." Redirected in an unknown hand to "Pisa."
Numbered "No. 32" and "No. 21" [of the series of letters addressed to the Berrys abroad].
Part of a collection of letters from Horace Walpole to Mary and Agnes Berry. Items in the collection have been described individually; see related collection-level record for more information. See also MA 495 (Letters from Walpole to the Misses Berry, 1791-1793); MA 496 (Letters from Walpole to the Misses Berry, 1794-1796, and letters from the Misses Berry to Walpole); and MA 497 (letters to various persons and miscellaneous writings).
Some passages have been crossed through, presumably by Mary Berry.
Numbered "No. 32" and "No. 21" [of the series of letters addressed to the Berrys abroad].
Part of a collection of letters from Horace Walpole to Mary and Agnes Berry. Items in the collection have been described individually; see related collection-level record for more information. See also MA 495 (Letters from Walpole to the Misses Berry, 1791-1793); MA 496 (Letters from Walpole to the Misses Berry, 1794-1796, and letters from the Misses Berry to Walpole); and MA 497 (letters to various persons and miscellaneous writings).
Some passages have been crossed through, presumably by Mary Berry.
Provenance
Given by Mary Berry to Sir Frankland Lewis; by descent to his daughter-in-law Lady Theresa Lewis; by descent to her son Sir Thomas Villiers Lister; by descent to his wife Lady Lister; Acquired by Pierpont Morgan before 1904.
Summary
Mentioning further developments in the Elizabeth Gunning affair; mentioning the two new rival opera houses; remarking that the Duchess of Dorset gave birth to a stillborn child and that Madame du Barry is trying to recover stolen jewels, alluding to the rumour that Mrs. Hastings accepted bribes in diamonds. Remarking that he went out of doors for the first time in eleven weeks the previous day, but was driven back in by terrible weather. Continuing the letter on the 28th: regretting that he has no letter from her and complaining about the length of time it takes a letter to travel from Pisa to London; remarking that they will be responding to the Gunning affair when "she may be sent to Botany Bay, and may be as much forgotten here as the Monster [Renwick Wiliams]." Mentioning mutual acquaintances and public figures. Continuing the letter on Monday evening: thanking her for two letters and remarking on his improved health; regretting to hear that they plan to return to England in October or November. Addressing Agnes, responding to her postscript with more information about Madame du Barry; reporting that Colonel Lenox is recovering and mentioning mutual acquaintances, noting that Burke "has no genius" and that there is "no novelty, no plan, and no suite in his poetry."
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